Orders of the Day - The League of Extraordinary F-35 Deputy Ministers Returns to Public Accounts!

By popular -- or, at least, not government-opposed -- demand,  the League of Extraordinary F-35 Deputy Ministers -- Robert Fonberg (Defence), Francois Guimont (Public Works), Michelle d'Auray (Treasury Board) and the luckless Simon Kennedy (Industry) -- heads back to Public Accounts for the second time this week, where they will face follow-up questions from MPs on last month's less than rosy report on the state of the procurement process released by Auditor General Michael Ferguson last month.

Before the encore performance gets underway, however, the committee will hear from Parliamentary Budget Officer Kevin Page, who will get a full hour to defend his conclusions on the F-35 cost projections, which, at last check, were still being roundly dismissed by the government despite the fact that his estimates appear to be remarkably similar to the figures subsequently put forward by the AG, which have been ostensibly accepted by that very same government. (Ferguson, incidentally, is scheduled to make a return appearance of his own next week. Stay tuned!)

Elsewhere on the committee front, Justice continues its review of Blake Richards' private members bill to create a separate offence for rioters who conceal their identities.

On the witness list for today: London Drugs loss prevention manager Tony Hunt; the Vancouver Police Department; Cadillac Fairview Corporation and the BC Civil Liberties Association, which will be represented by Paul Champ, as well as UBC professor and one-time NDP candidate Michael Byers.

Fresh off reporting its findings in the case of Vic Toews vs. Anonymous, Procedure and House Affairs will kick off a new privilege inquiry today -- this time, related to the security restrictions on the Hill during the recent visit of the Israeli prime minister -- with House of Commons Clerk Audrey O'Brien and Sgt. at Arms Kevin Vickers set to appear.

Over at Citizenship and Immigration, committee members undergo another day of double-header meetings on the refugee bill -- 8:45 to noon and 3:30 to 6:30 -- and Canadian Heritage continues its study of national protocol procedures with testimony from the Royal Canadian Legion, National Defence and the City of Ottawa, as well as the Manitoba and Ontario governments.

Back in the House, the budget implementation bill remains at the top of the legislative to-do list, where it will almost certainly remain for the next week. Technically, the Chamber is currently seized with an NDP-backed reasoned amendment, but the government has already indicated its intention to move time allocation in order to hustle it off to committee by May 14th. (Time allocation covers not just the main motion (in this case, to refer it to committee), but all amendments and subamendments as well.)

For the record, seven days for second reading of a budget bill -- yes, even a behemoth 400-page omnibill -- does not strike me as an outrage against the very notion of parliamentary democracy. Dropping the full weight of that omnibill on Finance, however, instead of splitting it into thematic chunks and divvying those up among the appropriate committees, on the other hand, may well make it impossible for members to provide proper oversight and due diligence of the measures contained therein.

Meanwhile, the latest round of Governor General's Performing Arts Awards recipients will be in the House for Question Period this afternoon. (Presumably, the runners-up will have to watch it for an entire week.) Stick around after QP for the official recognition by the Speaker and you'll get to see the looks on their faces.

On the ministerial circuit today:

• The PM will preside over the official unveiling of the Royal Canadian Naval Monument at 555 Wellington Street.
• Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq reveals new support for neuroscience research at the MaRS complex in Toronto
• Minister of State for Transport Steven Fletcher joins Canada Post officials for the launch of a new stamp commemorating the 200th anniversary of the Selkirk Red River Settlement in Winnipeg
• Public Safety Minister Vic Toews heads to Vancouver for an announcement on emergency management.

Also out and about today: Liberal Party president Mike Crawley will share his thoughts on "growing the movement" with members and guests of the Economic Club of Canada at the Chateau Laurier.

Finally, the Canadian Committee for World Press Freedom holds its annual awards lunch, which will also include a discussion on whether freedom of expression is, indeed, under siege, with panelists Jeff Sallott, Kathryn O'Hara and Yaroslav Baran. Former PMO communications director Dimitri Soudas was originally slated to take part in the debate, but appears to have been forced to pull out, presumably due to vitally important Canadian Olympic Committee business.